Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 384962 times)

Steph · « **Reply #720 on:** June 10, 2010, 05:51:41 AM »

Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Welcome to the whole universe! This is where we gather to share our experiences in science fiction and fantasy. We like everything, from Gregory Benford to Stephanie Meyer—hard science to magic and fantasy.

Come in, sit down with us, and tell us what you are reading or have read, what you like or dislike.

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Discussion Leader: PatH

Since I live in Florida, the heat would not be as oppressive as it would to Boston.. But the distances.. alas.. You make it sound so very very nice.

Babi · « **Reply #721 on:** June 10, 2010, 10:47:57 AM »

Ah, ROSE, what an enticing description. If only!

roshanarose · « **Reply #722 on:** June 10, 2010, 10:31:56 PM »

I am glad you liked the description. Just don't get me started on Greece!

Steph · « **Reply #723 on:** June 11, 2010, 05:51:55 AM »

Now you sound like me.. Went to the Netherlands several years ago and dida river cruise. It was so wonderful. It was tulip time and they are literally everywhere in such colors and styles.. Teeny little river villages, the morning mist.. Ah.. I must go back sometime., although alone will be hard since we both adored the country.

PatH · « **Reply #724 on:** June 11, 2010, 08:38:26 PM »

Yes, Steph, it's a challenge to figure out solo travel. I was lucky at first--my daughter and SIL thought it was cool to invite me along, and we went to Paris twice and Hawaii once, where they taught me to snorkel, and I met a large number of colorful fishes. Any SIL who thinks it's cool to add me to a Paris vacation is OK in my books. But they're busier now, and I should do other stuff before I get too stiff to hobble around. I'm not being very good at figuring out what, though.

PatH · « **Reply #725 on:** June 11, 2010, 08:51:12 PM »

Some people claim that Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is the first science fiction novel. I'm not sure I buy that, but we're going to discuss it in July, so you have a chance to debate it if you want. The book is very different from most of the movies made of it, and is surprisingly subtle in it's psychology. You can check out the prediscussion here:

http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=1482.0

Steph · « **Reply #726 on:** June 12, 2010, 06:07:02 AM »

Frankenstein.. Hmm. not sure I am up for that, but may check the prediscussioin.

Frybabe · « **Reply #727 on:** June 12, 2010, 07:46:00 AM »

One of my cable stations is showing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein this morning. To bad I don't like watching TV in the morning except for news and weather. I'd probably turn it off after a half hour. I need to do a little yard work this morning before it gets too hot.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #728 on:** June 12, 2010, 12:24:27 PM »

Wikipedia's entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein only tantalizes me more. Mention of a new edition, with the original text and Percy Bysse Shelley's additions is available:

Quote

On 1 October 2008, the Bodleian published a new edition of Frankenstein which contains comparisons of Mary Shelley's original text with Percy Shelley's additions and interventions alongside. The new edition is edited by Charles E. Robinson: The Original Frankenstein

see at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/originalfrankenstein

Steph · « **Reply #729 on:** June 13, 2010, 05:38:32 AM »

Poor Mary.. Never realized that her husband decided to improve things. I remember reading somewhere, they were having a contest of some sort about books.. and she won..Beating out her husband and his buddies.

Babi · « **Reply #730 on:** June 13, 2010, 08:38:14 AM »

I do hope Shelley wasn't too patronizing. That does set one's teeth on edge, doesn't it. I'm pleased to learn the book is quite different from the Hollywood film version. I'm looking forward to reading it.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #731 on:** June 13, 2010, 06:36:43 PM »

I've completed the fourth Mary Brown book which I did not read in order. Now I'll go back and read them as she meant them to be read, such a chore, but I'll struggle through it somehow.

Steph · « **Reply #732 on:** June 14, 2010, 05:38:41 AM »

I read the first two of the Mary Brown series, but never the last two..Willhave to go for them..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #733 on:** June 15, 2010, 07:30:50 PM »

Was this where I heard about Graceling, Kristin Cashore's first book in The Seven Kingdom's trilogy? Book 2 is out and book 3 is due in September, that's not long to wait. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/kristin-cashore/

Babi · « **Reply #734 on:** June 16, 2010, 08:22:41 AM »

Finally, I have Mary Brown's "Pigs Can't Fly...." on it's way via Paperback Swap. I don't know if it's the first book or not, but it's the
one I could find.
I need to check and see if my library has any Kristin Cashore books.

Steph · « **Reply #735 on:** June 17, 2010, 05:59:00 AM »

The Mary Brown Pigs book is the first in that series. She has written stand alones as well. The Swap is always short on Science fiction and fantasy and anything by Charlaine Harris or Vampire stuff. No Terry Pratchett either, mostly. I always post that sort of stuff and it gets snapped up in 24 hours.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #736 on:** June 17, 2010, 12:17:21 PM »

Actually, Steph, Pigs isn't the first one but the second. In The Unlikely Ones we meet the unicorn, among others, whose horn ring figures so prominently in all the next books. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/mary-brown/unlikely-ones.htm

Steph · « **Reply #737 on:** June 18, 2010, 05:55:22 AM »

Ihad just found The Unlikely Ones on my swap club and ordered it.. Had no idea it was the first one.. I had read Pigs years ago and it felt like the beginning. Oh well. I will delve into the background.

Babi · « **Reply #738 on:** June 18, 2010, 08:54:27 AM »

Do me a favor, STEPH. When you finish "The Unlikely Ones", can I have it? We can save the time sending it back through the swap club.

Steph · « **Reply #739 on:** June 19, 2010, 05:44:25 AM »

Babi, OK.. It is on the way and I will try to get to it fast. Then email you privately for your home address.. OK>>

Babi · « **Reply #740 on:** June 19, 2010, 08:37:53 AM »

Fantastic!

Thank you kindly, ma'am.

Steph · « **Reply #741 on:** June 23, 2010, 05:50:03 AM »

Am Now reading The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown and am mostly sure that I did in fact read this one years ago. Still I am rereading..Good book, gentle and kind about so many things. The witch was a real horror.

Babi · « **Reply #742 on:** June 23, 2010, 09:18:29 AM »

Witch, huh? I see there is more to Mary Brown than I thought. It
occurred to me, with a grin, that while we don't really believe in witches anymore, some of the '-itches' can be real horrors.

Steph · « **Reply #743 on:** June 24, 2010, 06:01:09 AM »

Babi, send me your address via private email.. I am almost done with the book.

Babi · « **Reply #744 on:** June 24, 2010, 09:49:34 AM »

STEPH, your e-mail address is hidden on your profile. However, my profile has my e-mail address. Contact me, and I can send you my address by return post.

Speaking of 'horror', I've started reading 'Frankenstein' and it promises to be doom of
the hopeless variety. Not at all like the movies. I'm off-setting the heaviness by reading
an old favorite, "The Blue Hills" of Elizabeth Goudge. That is always a pleasure and a
perfect read aloud book for the younger generation.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #745 on:** June 24, 2010, 05:28:08 PM »

In Genesis, bernard Beckett postulates a post-apocalyptic world where coming-of-age consists of an examinatiuon by a panel of three who question the applicant for four hours on their area of study.http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/bernard-beckett/genesis.htm A slight book of 160 pages this examination panel closely questions Anax about a pivotal person in the history of this remote island-nation. her questions will stretch her memory, her imagination, and her very soul. 5 out of 5

PatH · « **Reply #746 on:** June 24, 2010, 05:51:24 PM »

That sounds like a really good book, Jackie, and I've never heard of Bernard Beckett. Guess I'd better read it.

joegreyfan · « **Reply #747 on:** July 02, 2010, 02:46:18 PM »

I've already mentioned this on Mystery Corner, but I'm so excited about my brand-new iPod that I must repeat it here. That's because now I can reread the whole Harry Potter series (which I've already read multiple times) via audio book. Jim Dale is a brilliant reader, and I love to listen to him! Started Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone this morning during my walk, and am up to Chapter 3 already. I won't be surprised if I start taking longer walks now!

mrssherlock · « **Reply #748 on:** July 02, 2010, 05:36:50 PM »

Graceland, Kristin Cashore's first book in the seven Kingdoms trilogy, was a great read and the YA label didn't deter me and the second, Fire, was equally engrossing. Fire is labeled a "companion" to Graceling and the stories are nearly independent. Though there is a thread connecting the two it is not deoendent on the prior kniowledge imparted in Graceling. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/kristin-cashore/

PatH · « **Reply #749 on:** July 02, 2010, 06:04:11 PM »

So Harry Potter is good for your health! I'm not a big fan of audiobooks, as my visual attention span is worlds better than my hearing attention span, but I certainly agree with you about Jim Dale, joegreyfan.

PatH · « **Reply #750 on:** July 02, 2010, 06:05:14 PM »

Jackie, I never let the YA label put me off. I've read some mighty good YA books.

marcie · « **Reply #751 on:** July 02, 2010, 06:39:20 PM »

joegreyfan, that's a great pitch to sell ipods (congratulations!!) and other listening devices. Listening to books makes you walk more.

joegreyfan · « **Reply #752 on:** July 03, 2010, 02:14:38 PM »

Marcie, I'm also hoping that listening to the iPod will inspire me to get more housework done!

marcie · « **Reply #753 on:** July 03, 2010, 07:17:52 PM »

joegreyfan, it sounds like I definitely need an iPod!!

mrssherlock · « **Reply #754 on:** July 03, 2010, 07:20:00 PM »

I want an iTouch: http://tinyurl.com/33hh4mq

marcie · « **Reply #755 on:** July 03, 2010, 07:53:57 PM »

oh, that one looks good, mrssherlock!

Steph · « **Reply #756 on:** July 06, 2010, 09:31:52 AM »

I love Harry and have listened to all of the tapes as well as read the books of course. The man is a genius who reads them. He has such different voices for everyone. Amazing..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #757 on:** July 08, 2010, 07:33:22 PM »

Earlier I described Stephen Baxter's Flood that tells the story of the flooding of the entire globe. The scientists fight over causes, millions are uprooted as the lowland fill with water, but the rise of the water is inevitable, implacably everything is drowned, people franticqallymigrate higher and higher into the mountains. The scene where survvivors on their rafts gather to see the waves wash over Everest until nothing breaks the surface is very moving. Baxter's second book is Ark wherein a bunch of billionaires combine resources to plan and build a spaceship for some few of the survivors to attempt to establish Earth II; the US government, from its headquarters in Denver, are throwing resources into plans for when the waters reverse and begin to drain away. Baxter's forte is the science, covering meteorology, oceanography, sociology and psychology. His characters are not warm and fuzzy but I did grow to care deeply about the ones whic feature large in the various threads. A very thought-provoking book about the power of Mother Nature, the earth itself, and its attempts to regulate its systems.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/stephen-m-baxter/

Steph · « **Reply #758 on:** July 09, 2010, 05:45:15 AM »

Not by fire, but flood.. Hmm. may have to read that.

Babi · « **Reply #759 on:** July 09, 2010, 08:45:25 AM »

JACKIE, in "Ark", did the builders have any idea where they were
going in their spaceship? So far, I don't think we've found any other
habitable planets. Or has Baxter created one?

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Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 384962 times)